Agenda item

6.1

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance.

6.2

The Interim Director of Legal and Governance, David Hollis informed the Committee that the Code of Corporate Governance was not a statutory requirement although under the CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) framework, which was issues in 2016, recommended that all local authorities had one.

6.3

The Code of Corporate Governance was a document that drew together all the elements that this local authority has in place and evidence how the Council is meeting the principles that are outlined in the framework document issued by CIPFA.

6.4

It was mentioned thar the Code of Corporate Governance was last approved in October 2020. Since then, the Council had transitioned to a Committee System therefore the code had been updated to reflect that. The code had also been updated to reflect the Council’s values and the Future Sheffield Programme.

6.5

Members of the Committee asked questions and the following responses were provided: -

6.6

The Interim Director of Legal and Governance confirmed that the behaviours and actions demonstrating good governance reflected the behaviours identified at each principle. The evidence column demonstrated how the Council were delivering these actions.

6.7

Following a question from Independent Person, Karen Widdowson. The Interim Director of Legal and Governance confirmed the Council’s Constitution was under constant review and would undergo changes where necessary. It was added that the Constitution had just undertook a thorough review, following the Council’s transition to a Committee System.

6.8

Following a suggestion from Independent Person, Karen Widdowson. The Committee agreed that ‘low levels of member complaints’ be included into the evidence column in principle A of the Code of Corporate Governance.

6.9

Following a question from Independent Co-opted Member, Alison Howard. The Senior Finance Manager, Internal Audit agreed to check whether external audit did a review of the Council’s Code of Corporate Governance.

It was suggested that a review of the Council’s Code of Corporate Governance could form part of the peer review that takes place between different local authorities.

6.10

The Interim Director of Legal and Governance confirmed that a further review of the Code of Corporate Governance will be carried out again, once the 6-month review of new governance arrangements had finished. He added that an annual review of the code will be scheduled.

6.11

Following a suggestion from a Member of the Committee. The Committee agreed to include reference to the relationship between the Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority at principle C of the Code of Corporate Governance.

6.12

The Interim Director of Legal and Governance explained that as this code was not part of the constitution, it did not go to Full Council for approval. The code was presented to the Audit & Standards Committee for approval/changes along with it being within their remit to have oversight on the production of this code.

6.13

RESOLVED: That (1) the Committee approves the code of corporate governance, subject to the additions mentioned at 6.8 and 6.11 of these minutes; and (2) the Senior Finance Manager to check whether external audit did a review of the code of corporate governance.